Ponerology and Pathocracy and their Theoretical Frameworks

Ponerology, a term coined by Andrezej Lobaczewski, is the interdisciplinary study of evil, specifically focusing on the origins, development, and spread of evil on a large scale within societies and political systems. *

It posits that certain psychological deviations, particularly psychopathy, can infiltrate and ultimately dominate social structures, leading to the formation of “pathocracies”.

A pathocracy is a system of government where individuals with personality disorders, especially psychopathy, rise to positions of power and systematically impose their distorted worldview and values upon the populace. This result in a society characterized by oppression, manipulation, and systematic destruction of normal human bonds and ethical principles. [IBID]

Key characteristics of pathocracy, as described in ponerogical literature, include:

Psychopathical infiltration: individuals with psychopathic traits, such as a lack of empathy, manipulativeness, superficial charm, narcissism and a propensity of deceit, gain control of key institutions.

Systematic manipulation and propaganda: The ruling elite employs sophisticated psychological techniques to control information, distort reality and indoctrinate the population. This often involves the creation of an “us vs. them” mentality, demonization of external enemies, and the suppression of dissent.

Erosion of normal human values: Empathy, compassion, and independent thought are discouraged or punished while obedience, conformity and loyalty to the ruling ideology are highly valued.

Internal purge and terror: Dissenters or those perceived as threats to the ruling power are often subjected to severe punishment, including imprisonment, torture, or execution.

Cult of personality: leader or leaders are often deified and their pronouncement are treated as infallible.

Isolation from external reality: The group or society becomes increasingly isolated from external scrutiny and information, reinforcing the internal narrative.

The MEK: Structure and Practices

The MEK, founded in the 1960s, began as an Islamic-Marxist organization opposing the Shah of Iranand later the Islamic Republic. Its structure and internal dynamics have been the subject of extensive scrutiny, particularly regarding its leadership under Massoud and Maryam Rajavi.

Centralized leadership and ideological control

The MEK is characterized by an extremely centralized and hierarchical leadership structure, with Massoud Rajavi and later Maryam Rajavi, at its apex. Massoud Rajavi who disappeared in 2003, remains a titular leader, while Mrayam Rajavi has assumed the role of “President-elect” of the so-called “National Council of Resistance of Iran”, the MEK’s political vitrine. This leadership presented as infallible and the sole interpreter of the organization’s ideology.

The MEK’s ideology, a blend of Islam and Marxism, has evolved over time but consistently emphasizes absolute loyalty to the leadership and the revolutionary cause. Members undergo intensive ideological training and reduction sessions.

Psychological manipulation and “ideological revolution”

Numerous accounts from former MEK members and analysis by scholars describe a system of pervasive psychological manipulation within the organization particularly after the “Ideological Revolution” initiated by Massoud Rajavi in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This “revolution” aimed to purify the organization and solidify the Rajavi’s control.

Key elements of this alleged ideological revolution and the actual psychological manipulation include:

Forced divorces and celibacy: Based on the order issue by Rajavi, named “ideological revolution”, members were compelled to divorce their spouses and live in celibacy, with the stated aim of dedicating themselves entirely to the revolution and eliminating personal attachments that could compete with loyalty to the leadership. This practice is seen by critics as means to break down individual identity and foster dependence on the group.

Daily self-criticism sessions: Members are required to participate in daily sessions where they confess their “ideological shortcomings”, “sexual deviations” and “bourgeois thoughts”. These sessions, often public and humiliating, serve to reinforce conformity, suppress dissent, and expose any deviation from the prescribed ideology.

Information control and isolation: access to external media, family contact, and independent information is severely restricted. Members live in isolated camps, primarily Camp Ashraf in Iraq and then Camp Ashraf 3 in Albania where their only source of information is the MEK leadership. This creates an echo chamber where the MEK’s narrative is unchallenged.

Deification of the Rajavis: Massoud and Maryam Rajavi are presented as messianic figures, embodying the revolutionary spirit and the ultimate truth. Their pronouncements are considered sacred, and questioning the leadership is equivalent of treason.

Emotional manipulation: The MEK’s leadership exploit members’ emotional vulnerabilities, including their desire for purpose, belonging, and a better future for Iran, to secure their unwavering loyalty.

Tyranny and abuse in the MEK’s ruling system

Beyond psychological manipulation, there are numerous reports and testimonies on tyrannical practices and human rights abuses within the MEK. These include:

Physical abuse and torture: Former members have reported instances of physical abuse, including beatings, sleep deprivation, and solitary confinement, for expressing dissent or attempting to leave the organization.

Forced labor: Members are reportedly subjected to long hours of labor with little to no compensation, contributing to the organization’s self-sufficiency.

Suppression of dissent: Any form of criticism or questioning of the leadership is met with severe repercussions, leading to climate of fear and self-censorship.

Prevention of departure: Members who wish to leave the organization are often prevented from doing so, sometimes through force or intimidation, and are subjected to intense pressure to remain.

Application of ponerology and pathocracy to the MEK

When examining the MEK’s ruling system through the lens of ponerology and pathocracy, several parallels emerge.

The highly centralized and authoritarian nature of the MEK, coupled with the absolute power wielded by Massoud and Maryam Rajavi, aligns with the concept of a ruling elite that has systematically eliminated internal opposition and consolidated control. The “ideological revolution” and its associated practices, such as forced divorces, daily self-criticism, and severe information control, bear a striking resemblance to the methods described in ponerological literature for creating a compliant and ideologically uniform population. These practices can be interpreted as a deliberate effort to dismantle individual autonomy and foster complete dependence on the organization and its leaders.

The deification of the Rajavis and the suppression of any critical thought or dissent are hallmarks of a cult of personality, a common feature in pathocratic systems where the leader’s aythority is unquestionable. The use of physical abuse and the prevention of members from leaving further underscore a tyrannical environment where individual rights are systematically violated.

While it is beyond scope of this analysis to definitively diagnose individuals with psychopathy, the systemic outcomes described by former members and human rights organizations- namely, the pervasive manipulation, the erosion of normal human relationships, the suppression of empathy, and the systematic control over information and individual lives – are consistent with the characteristics of pathocracy.

The MEK’s internal environment, as depicted in critical accounts, appears to have fostered a culture where loyalty to the leadership superseded ethical considerations and individual well-being, a key indicator of pathocratic system where distorted values are imposed.

The systematic nature of these practices, their long duration and their profound impact on the lives of MEK members suggest a deliberate and sustained effort to reshape individual psycology and social dynamics within the organization to serve the interests of the ruling elite. This aligns with ponerology’s focus on the systemic nature of evil and its manifestation in political structures. The MEK’s structure, therefore exhibits many characteristics that resonate with the theoretical constructs of ponerology and pathocracy. Particularly concerning the psychological manipulation and tyrannical rule under Massoud and Maryam Rajavi.

Mazda Parsi

*Loaczewski, Andrzej. Political Ponerology: A Science on the Nature of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes, Grande Prairie, AB, Canada : Red Pill Press, 2006.

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Once, the MKO leader Massoud Rajavi took a lot of advantages from the war between Iran and Iraq although he lost his least support among the Iranian public due to siding with their aggressive enemy. However, the MKO leaders have no way out except resorting to the old tool which is siding with the enemy of Iranian nation.

Having been disappointed with the nuclear deal, and therefore, a normalized Iran-West relationship, they were lying in ambush for another troubled Iranian relations with foreign countries. The disaster of Mina gave them the opportunity. 

The group’s propaganda media garner their headlines with sponsorship for Saudi Arabia. In case of the heartbreaking tragedy of this year’s pilgrimage, the MKO leader and propaganda predictably disregarded the loss of a large number of their country-men, instead they played the part of attorney of the Saudis.  Maryam Rajavi usually sends message of condolences for the least earthquake that shakes Iran –even if there is no death casualty—and always put the fault of casualties of the quake on the Iranian Government’s mismanagement but she never offers sympathy to the large number of survivors of the Mina disaster that was the direct result of mismanagement of the government of Saudi Arabia that is supposed to manage the most important annual event of the world of Islam.

 The MKO’s propaganda covers the clashes in Yemen as if Islamic Republic is bombing civilians rather than Saudi Arabia! Yemen has turned into a humanitarian disaster, where thousands of bombs are being dropped, 1.5 million people are displaced and more than 90% of the population is in need of assistance, according to the Guardian. The Guardian views Yemen’s crisis as “the forgotten war”. But why the Western media forget it because “the US is one of the primary causes of the problem”. This reason is exactly true for the MKO media because Saudi Arabia is one of their military and financial sponsors as well as the US and Israel.

The West is actively assisting the Saudi monarchy while the country indiscriminately kills thousands of civilians in Yemen in what amounts to war crimes by almost anyone’s definition. To obey its western masters and to flatter its main sponsor in the region the MKO turns blind eye to the most horrific atrocities against humanity.  However, it claims to advocate human rights and democracy for the Iranian people.

What counts for the MKO to make allies, is only money.  As far as the group is financially supported by Saudis, the MKO media serves as their “fan Club”.  This is one of many accounts of the Saudi’s sponsorship for the MKO that Press TV reported:

“A Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization defector says the terrorist group receives funding from Saudi Arabia and Israel, emphasizing MKO’s role in the suppression and massacre of Iraqis under the former Baath regime.  Speaking in an exclusive interview with Ashraf News website in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday, Maryam Sanjabi said there is evidence about the relations and cooperation between the MKO and the Saudi kingdom. She added that the group has used the tactic of establishing relations with Jordanian lawmakers in order to expand their activities in Jordan with the help of Riyadh. She also called on the remaining MKO members in camp Liberty in Iraq to think rationally and take advantage of the Iraqi government and UN decisions about their re-settlement in another country.  MKO members have now a better chance of escaping in the wake of their transfer from Camp New Iraq, formerly known as Camp Ashraf, situated about 120 kilometers (74 miles) west of the border with Iran, to the Camp Liberty, the former MKO leadership council member said. The group fled to Iraq in 1986, where it enjoyed the support of Iraq’s executed dictator Saddam Hussein, and set up its camp near the Iranian border. The organization is known to have cooperated with Saddam in suppressing the 1991 uprisings in southern Iraq and carrying out the massacre of Iraqi Kurds. The group has also carried out numerous acts of violence against Iranian civilians and government officials.”

By Mazda Parsi

References:

[1] The Guardian, The Yemen crisis is partly our fault. We can no longer facilitate this war, 5 October 2015

[2] Press TV, ‘S Arabia, Israel fund MKO terrorists’, May 13 2012

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Mujahedin e-khalq organization has been recognized by many credible western sources as a cult-like organization. In mid-2009, the Rand Corporation published a report titled ‘Mujahedin-e Khalq in Iraq: A Policy Conundrum’. The report was written by a team of four who worked for 15 months in the US and Iraq to produce the most thorough analysis to date of the group’s cultish aspects. MKO is referred to as a cult 88 times in this report. It is stated in the report that ‘an examination of MKO activities establishes its cultic practices and its deceptive recruitment and public relations strategies.’ Over time, the MKO was imbued with many of the typical characteristics of a cult, such as authoritarian control, confiscation of assets, sexual control (including mandatory divorce and celibacy), emotional isolation, forced labor, sleep deprivation, physical abuse, and limited exit options.’

In May 2005, Human Rights Watch issued a report describing prison camps within Iraq run by the MKO and severe human rights violations committed by the group against former members. The report described how the MKO was held under tight control of the husband and wife team of Massoud and Maryam Rajavi and has a history of cult-like practices that include forcing members to divorce their spouses and to engage in extended self-criticism sessions.

A 2011 declassified U.S. State Department cable from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, details interviews with MKO members who managed to escape from Camp Ashraf. The escapees – referred to as defectors in the cable “reaffirmed existing perceptions of the MKO as a cult-like organization that thrives on maintaining control of its members and those lured to Ashraf under false pretenses.”

Although the MKO has always denied its cultic nature, the terrorist group has once more proved unconsciously that these documents are thoroughly accurate.

MKO members at Camp Liberty were forced by their leader, Maryam Rajavi, to go on a hunger strike after an unknown group of people attacked Camp Ashraf on September 1, 2013 and 7 MKO members allegedly disappeared. After MKO was criticized by some former members as a cult which forces its members to go on hunger strike, Maryam Rajavi tried to cover the whole story up in a conference held in Paris by saying: “On the basis of many requests by you, I have appealed to the residents at Liberty to end their strike. But they have said that the only way they can convey their protest with respect to the 7 hostages and the issue of protection at Liberty to everyone else is to make sacrifices with their own bodies.” Critics continued blaming MKO leadership regardless of Rajavi’s claims. As reported by NEJAT Society, a group of former MKO members issued a statement to condemn “forced and useless hunger strike” in Camp Liberty. A part of the statement reads: “In fact, all political and propaganda affairs including self-immolations and hunger strikes are basically organized acts and actually under the order of the leadership and members are due to execute them”.

Now, a couple of months after Maryam Rajavi claimed the MKO members’ hunger strike was voluntarily, she is urging them to end their strike, apparently because of a vote against Faleh Fayad, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Advisor, by a Spanish court. MKO leader has issued the order without even achieving the announced goals of the hunger strike. Maryam Rajavi seems to be forced to finish the whole show mainly due to the increasing pressure on the cult’s leaders following the forced hunger strike.

Now a question is raised here: “How can the West, including the United States, trust such a cult whose members are fully brainwashed and potentially capable of doing anything if ordered by their leaders? What if MKO leader had ordered the cult’s members to wear explosive belts and blow themselves up in European cities? A similar case has occurred when Maryam Rajavi was arrested by the French Police in 2003. As a protest action following Rajavi’s arrest, 10 MKO members immolated themselves in Paris. The organization has also a long record of using suicide terrorism to take out Iranian political or religious elite. How can the European Union and the United States justify their support for such a cult and still claim to be the pioneers of promoting Human Rights throughout the world?”

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Mehr News quoted a statement by Brussels-based International Fact-Finding Committee, who acts as a pro-MEK association in Europe. “The MEK (Mujahedin-e-Khalq) has committed itself to allocate $ 100m to the UN Development Program if the UN permits the organization to sell Camp Liberty property and assets,” reads the statement.

The news website Al-Iraq al-Jamii (United Iraq) reported that the Committee chairman Alejo Cuadras said that MEK would sign an agreement to sell the Camp Ashraf with a British company, and if the Iraqi government agreed, it would allocate $ 100m to UN Development Program, with the pretext that the MEK had rebuilt the camp investing $ 20m of its own assets.

Camp Ashraf and property and assets are part of Iraqi pubic resources, which were granted to MEK by Saddam Hussein when they entered Iraq.

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Mojahedin Khalq, Mossad should have coordinated in advance!

A few days ago Mossad announced that a man called Ali Mansouri, a resident of Belgium, had been arrested in Israel on charges of spying.

Today the Mojahedin Khalq (Rajavi cult) issued a statement which clearly shows their panic and desperation.

Le Soir newspaper had earlier exposed this man as a member of the Mojahedin Khalq, and these days everyone knows that membership of this cult is by itself is evidence that the brain is not working properly and logic is missing and therefore the person can be expected to do all sorts of daft things if ordered by the cult leaders.

From the MEK statement it is clear that Ali Manouri has a close organisational relationship with the organisation and it is clear that he has been involved in the money laundering and financial section of the cult. In this desperate attempt, the Mojahedin Khalq are trying to claim that “he has been an agent of Iran and had infiltrated the cult”.

It is not the first time the Mojahedin Khalq has use this threadbare tactic. We have seen the case of Ms Marjan Seyedabadi who the Mojahedin first claimed had been martyred, and when they found out she had not been killed in a terrorist operation, they withdrew all their statements and claimed that they had no knowledge of such a person.

In this joint Mossad-Mojahedin Khalq scenario, it is clear that the only reason the MEK issue statements etc, is nothing more than trying to cover up the fact that it is their own member who has now been arrested and exposed. The rest of the two pages of ranting is the usual smoke and mirrors and repeated nonsense which everyone who knows the MEK is familiar with.

It is worth asking the Mojahedin Khalq leaders and their Israeli handlers to coordinate their activities before producing these kinds of gaffes.

Translated by Iran Interlink

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“…annulment of the terror tag has given regime’s crises an overthrowing characteristic, has tilted the balance of power between the resistance movement and the regime, and has prepared the ground for recuperation of Resistance’s forces inside Iran and the expansion of its units”, said Maryam Rajavi charmed with the removal of the MKO from the terror list.

She claimed that the terror label had been the greatest obstacle against the MKO in its way to overthrow the Islamic Republic and by its removal “the policy of appeasement” failed in the West and a new era started!!

A year past that alleged historical incidence for the MKO, a look at the group’s situation indicates that all events turned out to be against the will and ambitions of the MKO leaders. Being delisted not only didn’t aid them in their efforts to destabilize the Iranian government but also paved the way for their expulsion from Iraq and the eventual collapse of the cult-like structure of the group.

The examination of what the MKO has gone through during the past year, demonstrates:

– The declining course of the group’s breakdown is on the rise. The relocation of Liberty residents to Albania and Germany contrasts what Rajavi used to claim about Ashraf, as their “strategic centre that should be saved to death”.

– A large number of transferred members in Albania (about 70 people) announced their defection from the group immediately after they settled down in the third country.

– Another large number escaped Camp Liberty near Baghdad, last year after Ashraf was evacuated .

 – Two prominent and old members of the so-called National Council of Resistance (Mohammad Reza Rouhani and Karim Qasim ) defected the council criticizing Massoud Rajavi’s undemocratic approaches in the MKO . Based on their usual suppressive tone, the group authorities attempted to isolate the two defectors but they faced with more revelations and protestation by the side of Mr. Rouhani and Mr. Qasim.

– A long time companion of the cult, Iraj Mesdaqi was another critic who wrote a 200- page open letter to reveal crimes of Massoud Rajavi.

– Fear of the cult and in particular Massoud Rajavi’s personality has decreased dramatically. Every day, revelations are published to denounce the MKO Massoud Rajavi although the group propaganda used any means to suppress opposing voices.

Today the number of the MKO cult hardly ever mounts to a dozen in some countries.

– Lacking public support in Iran as well as outside Iran, the group propaganda has to spend large amounts of money to rent attendees for its demonstration shows. Poor people and students are trapped by the cult for a hotel room, a free trip or a few warm meals. This is widely broadcasted in the media.

– The MKO leaders were awaiting the collapse of Syrian government. Massoud Rajavi had promised the overthrow of Bashar Asad till last spring. The group members and officials were disappointed by the recent changes in the equations of the region.

– The suspicious massacre at Camp Ashraf to where the Rajavis urged seriously to return their forces, resulted in the suspicious killing of 52 remaining residents of the Camp and the disappearance of 7 others. Thus the group leaders disgracefully admitted to move the 42 survivors of the Camp. Camp Ashraf was completely evacuated. A piece of Iraqi territory got back to its main owners, Iraqi people.

One year after the removal of the MKO from terror list , the equation in the region has changed  a lot but against the group. The MKO even lost the only pretext – delisting by the US – it had to put the blame of its failures on!
 

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Maryam Rajavi has told camp administrators that "even if one desperate goes out, all the organization’s efforts and political measures at outside would be foiled."

Remnants of Rajavi simultaneously have put two steps on agenda in order to inhibit detachment of members:

* Enlightening members that any interview invitation should be subjected to declaration of Liberty as a refugee camp that, as they allege, would be the only way to obtain mass asylum

* Resuming lobbying efforts in the US to pressure the UNHCR and haggle with the American side in order to declare Liberty as a refugee camp

According to the MeK leadership, declaration of Liberty as a refugee camp would provide their long-term presence in Iraq and they would have a chance to discourage the UNHCR officials in perusing file of transfer the group members out of this country.

If such an assumption realized, members, who become tools for developing this trick hoping to obtain mass asylum, will be told that the UNHCR due to political obstacles is not doing its job.

An important point here is Rajavi’s gang sensitivity about defectors and those who get able to leave the camp at this point. That the MeK treat them as disturbers of political actions of group abroad, especially in case of the US, is an alarm indicating that the group leaders will not suffice only to these tricks, but with the continued separation of members, they will increase pressure on protesters who demand breakaway; on the other hand, leaders of the MeK in every possible way with all kinds of excuses will struggle to limit powers of the UNHCR in order to avoid legal interference in the determination of members.

So, in these circumstances, any of those who manage to get out of the hellish organization of Mujahedeen, more than ever before, should embark on enlightenment and should inform the world of the MeK.

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The MeK leadership’s statement reveals that her intention of sabotage in the relocation process was not to improve the living conditions of her members, but to blackmail America’s government, especially for removing name of the group from the list of terrorist organizations. (It is likely that this scenario be repeated during next steps.)

The MeK leadership already had stated that no longer she would allow the rest of the group to leave the camp, unless her 6 conditions were met, and her sabotage in the relocation process was to persuade the US and Iraqi government to accept her illegal demands, but finally she was forced to withdraw and announced that another batch of MeK members will leave Camp Ashraf to Camp Liberty on August 23.

The MeK leadership’s statement on this topic clearly reveals that her intention of sabotage in the relocation process was not to improve the living conditions of her members, but to blackmail America’s government, especially for removing name of the group from the list of terrorist organizations. (It is likely that this scenario be repeated during next steps.)

In the statement, without any reference to outcome of the pre- existing conditions, the US government, three times, is asked for removing the group from the terrorist list:

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran declared: As a gesture of goodwill, the residents of Ashraf will commence the 6th convoy of 400 residents from Camp Ashraf to Camp Liberty on August 23.

She added: The residents anticipate and expect that the completion of convoy 6 will be followed by a public statement by the United States Government that recognizes the cooperation of the Ashraf residents and reiterates continued U.S. commitment to:

(i) the approach on FTO designation and delisting outlined by Secretary Clinton on February 29, 2012, recognizing that the decision of US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit requires the Secretary of State to make a determination regarding the FTO designation of the PMOI (MeK) by October 1, 2012;

(ii) a real effort to resolve the remaining humanitarian issues at Liberty that materially affect the daily lives of the residents, including sustainable mechanisms to provide water and electricity; and

(iii) support the safety and security of the residents until they relocate to third countries outside of Iraq, in mindfulness of the fact that this universally desired outcome cannot happen expeditiously without delisting.

The MeK leadership’s statement reveals that what matter for her only are propping up the organization and self-regarding. So, the UN and the US government should not be deceived by this terrorist group and have to provide individual rights of the residents of Camp Liberty, and refrain from engaging in political considerations.

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